Door lock actuator

Abstract

A door lock actuator for locking and unlocking a vehicle door includes a rack and pinion drive assembly which is laterally movable to move the door lock control member between locking and unlocking positions as driven by a passenger controlled permanent magnet electric motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A linear actuator comprising a housing having a longitudinal cavity therein with an opening at one end thereof; an output member disposed in the cavity for longitudinal movement therewithin between first and second positions including a rod portion having a longitudinal axis and extending outwardly through the opening and adapted to be connected to a member to be actuated; a longitudinal slot in said output member, a rack of gear teeth formed on an inner longitudinal surface defining the slot of the output member; reversible motor means connected to the housing and having an output shaft; a pinion connected to said output shaft and having teeth meshing with the gear teeth of said rack and the axis of rotation of said pinion being perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal axis of said rod portion, said motor means and pinion being operative to drive the rack and output member between said first and second positions; single roller means engaging an outer longitudinal surface of the output member opposite said rack and said pinion engagement for maintaining said engagement and for guidably supporting the output member during said movement between said positions; support means mounting said roller means including a post extending through one wall of said housing, an eccentric portion on said post rotatably supporting said roller means, adjustment means on said post for permitting rotation of said post relative to said housing so that said eccentric portion enforces proper meshing of said rack and pinion, and a deformable portion on said post being deformed to secure said post in said housing to prevent rotation of said post after proper meshing is accomplished; and manual means operatively connected to said output member for manually moving said output member between said first and second positions independently of said motor means. 
     
     
       2. A linear actuator comprising: a housing having a longitudinal cavity therein with an opening at one end thereof; an output member slidably disposed in the cavity for longitudinal movement therewithin between first and second positions; a rod on the output member extending outwardly through the opening and adapted to be connected to a member to be actuated; a longitudinal slot in said output member, a rack of gear teeth formed on an inner longitudinal surface defining the slot of the output member; reversible motor means connected to the housing and having an output shaft; a pinion connected to said output shaft and having teeth meshing with the gear teeth of said rack, said motor means and pinion being operative to drive the rack and output member between said first and second positions; single roller means engaging an outer longitudinal surface of the output member opposite said rack and pinion engagement for maintaining said engagement and for guidably supporting the output member during said movement between said positions; support means mounting said roller means including a post extending through one wall of said housing, an eccentric portion on said post rotatably supporting said roller means, adjustment means on said post for permitting rotation of said post relative to said housing so that said eccentric portion enforces proper meshing of said rack and pinion, and a deformable portion on said post being deformed to secure said post in said housing to prevent rotation of said post after proper meshing is accomplished; resilient means encircling said rod at locations internally and externally of said cavity for abutting said housing when said output member has reached said first or second position; and manual means operatively connected to said output member for manually moving said output member between said first and second positions independently of said motor means. 
     
     
       3. A linear actuator comprising: a housing having a longitudinal cavity therein with an opening at one end thereof; an output member slidably disposed in the cavity for longitudinal movement therewithin between first and second positions including a rod portion having a longitudinal axis extending outwardly through the opening and adapted to be connected to a member to be actuated; a longitudinal slot in said output member, a rack of gear teeth formed on an inner longitudinal surface defining the slot of the output member; reversible motor means connected to the housing and having an output shaft; a pinion connected to said output shaft and having teeth meshing with the gear teeth of said rack and the axis of rotation of said pinion being perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal axis of said rod portion, said motor means and pinion being operative to drive the rack and output member between said first and second positions; single roller means engaging an outer longitudinal surface of the output member opposite said rack and pinion engagement for maintaining said engagement and for guidably supporting the output member during said movement between said positions; support means mounting said roller means including a post extending through one wall of said housing, an eccentric portion on said post rotatably supporting said roller means, adjustment means on said post for permitting rotation of said post relative to said housing so that said eccentric portion enforces proper meshing of said rack and pinion, and a deformable portion on said post being deformed to secure said post in said housing to prevent rotation of said post after proper meshing is accomplished; resilient means encircling said rod at locations internally and externally of said cavity for abutting said housing when said output member has reached said first or second position; and manual means operatively connected to said output member for manually moving said output member between said first and second positions independently of said motor means. 
     
     
       4. A linear actuator comprising: a housing having a longitudinal cavity therein with an opening at one end thereof; an output member disposed in the cavity for longitudinal movement therewithin between first and second positions including a rod portion having a longitudinal axis and extending outwardly through the opening and adapted to be connected to a member to be actuated; a longitudinal slot in said output member, a rack of gear teeth formed on an inner longitudinal surface defining the slot of the output member; reversible motor means connected to the housing and having an output shaft; a pinion connected to said output shaft and having teeth meshing with the gear teeth of said rack and the axis of rotation of said pinion being perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal axis of said rod, said motor means and pinion being operative to drive the rack and output member between said first and second positions; single roller means engaging an outer longitudinal surface of the output member opposite said rack and said pinion engagement; and support means mounting said roller means including a post extending through one wall of said housing, an eccentric portion on said post rotatably supporting said roller means, adjustment means on said post for permitting rotation of said post relative to said housing so that said eccentric portion enforces proper meshing of said rack and pinion, and a deformable portion on said post being deformed to secure said post in said housing to prevent rotation of said post after proper meshing is accomplished.